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Written 5-20-09
The Southeast District hosted an exciting
District Conference and Pre-Conference on Sunday
May, 17, 2009. The celebration of ministries in
the Southeast included reports from each of the
four clusters on the work of the churches.
The children from St. Andrew's UMC set the
stage with singing that warmed the heart.
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The
district celebrated an increase in 2008
in the number of converts, persons
who made a profession of faith in Jesus
Christ and nurtured by the churches. The
number of converts has moved up each of
the last three years, 125, 150 and 184
in 2008.
We are excited about the churches
reaching out even as churches know they
have to do more. |
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Paulette West presented information on the
upcoming Annual Conference and guided delegates
through what they can expect at Annual
Conference this year. She reminded the delegates
preparing for Annual Conference to read up on
the 32 amendments and to be prepared to vote on
the amendments. |
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The District recognized the work of pastors and
churches at the forefront of evangelism,
outreach, and giving to apportionment to keep
United Methodist Ministries alive at home and
around the world.
The pastors were recognized for leading the
churches they serve to a year with an increase
in average attendance, membership addition
through profession of faith and giving 100% of
their
apportionment, their fair share for United Methodist
ministry. The pastors stood between the District
Superintendent and the District Lay Leader as a
testimony to the joint venture between clergy
and laity to grow the churches.
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(LR) DS Stryker, Mike Densmore, Dee
Dowdy, Lynn Ray, Jeff Spotts, Lewis
Archer, Baxter Chism, John Wilson, Donnie Erwin-Brown, Shirleen
Harvey, Michael Strong and District Lay
Leader Steve Lyles.
Not in picture: Lee Roy Shaw, Mary
Fernandez, Thomas Robertson and Roger
Thompson.
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(LR) Stryker,
Lyles, Albert Smith
& Josh Hickman, |
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Jeff Spotts,
receiving Local Pastor license |
The District Conference recognized,
prayed for and presented Preaching
Licenses to the new incoming local
pastors. The district welcomes
Clarence Foster, Josh Hickman, Albert
Smith and Jeff Spotts.
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The new
Rethink Church reminds churches
that the church is a verb. The district is also a verb,
pushing doors open. Various members of the Southeast
District are going to Atucucho, Ecuador as part of a
District Mission
Team from June 27 - July 4th. The congregants at the
District conference received an offering to the glory of
God to be used for supplies during the mission trip.
Eight hundred and thirteen dollars was collected. The
church is a verb and the trip will help the district put
love into action.
The District Conference recognized
churches for their faithfulness. Forty-six churches
received by profession of faith one or more members in
2008 and Seventy-two of the one hundred and ten churches
gave 100% to United Methodist apportionment. While 2008
was an extremely difficult year financially in the
nation, these churches, we believe, gave out of
gratitude to God and out of a recognition that ministry
needs are greater now than they have been in a long time.
Click here to see a listing of churches
recognized for faithfulness to God's work through United
Methodism. You will need a pdf reader to read.
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